Modular surface-mounted organizing and display system

ABSTRACT

A face plate system including at least one sliding face plate panel, and at least one shelf or other stable surface. A modular face plate, with specially fitted tabs on its top and bottom, slides upright into matching grooves cut into a shelf or shelves. The grooves may be cut either into the top or bottom of the shelf, or the face of the shelf. No glue or permanent joinery is needed to secure the face plate, making it easy to remove, and allowing a set of face plates to be interchangeable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority from Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/404,167 filed on Aug. 19, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to modular storage and display units. In particular, the present invention is directed toward modular storage and display units of the type often used in retail stores, and more recently, in homes. The present invention adds a considerable new dimension to modular organizing, utilizing interchangeable face plates which interface with shelves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In recent years, there has been a growing trend toward modular storage units for the home. With the rapid changes in technology, especially with the domain of personal items, storing new technological items may become a problem. Old, static storage units are often bulky and cannot feasibly accommodate or effectively organize such objects as digital video discs (DVDs) and the like.

[0004] While there are currently various adjustable organizing systems available, none are able to easily accommodate media-specific storage, and there is the constant need to make such storage more modular, economical, and easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides for a modular organizing system which includes a novel type of vertical storage panel which may be slid into fixed shelving units. This panel, acting like a type of sliding face plate, is readily interchangeable with other panels, each being designed to store a specific set of objects. The tongue-and groove method of assembly, coupled with a locking stop-plate at one end of the groove, assures that the storage panel, when located in position, will positively remain so located.

[0006] The face plate panel comes in various sizes, ranging from longer than the shelf it is fitted into, to shorter than the shelf. The face plate also comes in a plurality of designs, each design being suited to organization and display of a particular object or set of objects. If the face plate panel is shorter than the length of the shelf, several difference face plate panels may be used adjacent each other along a single shelf (along the same groove), each one suited to store different media. For added strength, the face plate may slide into two shelves, one securing its top tab, the other shelf securing the bottom tab. this two-shelf method is the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] Depending on the location of the grooves cut into the shelf, the face plate may slide in anywhere from the front of the shelf (the front of the face plate being flush with the front of the shelf) to the back, to suit different purposes.

[0008] In order to be used in conjunction with existing shelving systems, which either do not have the proper grooves cut into them, or are not spaced properly, these face plates may either clip onto to the shelves or have spring-loaded tension beams on their vertical edges which would secure them between two shelves.

[0009] The purpose of such an interchangeable face plate is to economically store, organize, and display various media, such as, but not limited to: CDs, DVDs, books, jewelry, photographs, and a multitude of other personal items. The face plates may also perform a more decorative function, being used to cover up something, or being fitted with a special type of light-box fixture to act as a light.

[0010] The material of the shelves most suitably may be wood or any kind of solid laminate, or man-made substance such as MDF. The face plate may be best made out of various types of metal, plastic, laminates and wood. These materials may also be used integrally in making a single face plate (e.g. a wooden face plate with metal tabs).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembly of the face plate (designed to hold digital compact discs) with two shelves.

[0012]FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the grooves and channels chamfered into the faces of the shelves, into which the tabs of the face plate slide.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the face plate in its secure position between two shelves.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 2.

[0015]FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves (simple dado).

[0016]FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves (dado with lip).

[0017]FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves (elbow dado).

[0018]FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves (elbow dado, with flush-mount bend in face plate).

[0019]FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves (chamferless rail guide).

[0020]FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves (face-chamfered dado with lip).

[0021]FIG. 11 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves (face-chamfered elbow dado).

[0022]FIG. 12 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves (face-chamfered dado with lip) in such a way that the face plates are able to be used in vertical tandem.

[0023]FIG. 13 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves (face-chamfered elbow dado) in such a way that the face plates are able to be used in vertical tandem.

[0024]FIG. 14 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves (top/bottom chamfered dado with lip) in such a way that the face plates are able to be used in vertical tandem.

[0025]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternate design for the face plate.

[0026]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternate design for the face plate.

[0027]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an alternate design for the face plate.

[0028]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the assembly of multiple face plates along a single set of shelves.

[0029]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of assembled multiple face plates along a single set of shelves.

[0030]FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the face plate, with a slight modification acting as a space doubler.

[0031]FIG. 21 is a side view of how the face plate may be set at a vertical angle.

[0032]FIG. 22 is a side view of how the face plate may be set at a vertical angle, with both chamfers in the shelves remaining parallel.

[0033]FIG. 23 is a perspective view of how the face plate, while removed, may be used as a lidded storage bin.

[0034]FIG. 24 is a plan view of a special plate used to cover the side or face of a shelf.

[0035]FIG. 25 is a side view of an alternate way of affixing a face plate to two shelves using a T-shaped groove.

[0036]FIG. 26 is a side view of an alternate way of affixing the face plate to two shelves.

[0037]FIG. 27 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the face plate of the present invention which may clip to a pair of shelves.

[0038]FIG. 28 is another view of the face plate of FIG. 27, shown attached to a pair of shelves.

[0039]FIG. 29 is a side view of another embodiment of the face plate of the present invention.

[0040]FIG. 30 is front view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0041]FIG. 31 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention with vertical storage slots.

[0042]FIG. 32 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention with two embodiments of drawers and doors illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1, the storage and display system of one embodiment of the present invention, includes a vertically positioned face plate 10, which may be joined to one or more shelves 15A and 15B with a tongue-and-groove system, incorporating fixed tabs 11A and 11B (the tongue portion) on face plate 10, provided with special lips 12A and 12B. The tab and lip on the face plate are slidingly joined with a matched groove 16A and 16B and channel 17A and 17B cut into shelf. An enlarged view of the tongue-and-groove on the shelf is illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0044]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the assembly of the face plate of the present invention designed to hold digital compact discs with two shelves. Face plate 10 may be provided with individual compartments 14 for storing individual digital compact discs. Face plate 10 may be provided with top tab 11A which slides into lower slot 16A on the top shelf 15A to secure face plate 10 to top shelf 15A.

[0045] Similarly, face plate 10 may be also provided with lower tab 11B, which may be slid into slot 16B in bottom shelf 15B to secure face plate 10 to lower shelf 15B. Top face plate tab 11A may be provided with lip 12A, which may be used to secure face plate 10 to shelf 15A by sliding into channel part 17A of groove 16A. Bottom face plate tab 11B may be provided with a similar lip 12B, which may be used to secure face plate 10 to shelf 15B by sliding into channel part 17B of groove 16B.

[0046] Face plate 10 may be provided with a vertical front-facing portion 13, which may embody a plurality of media-specific designs. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, this media specific design is one for accepting compact discs, CD-ROMs, or DVDs, or the like in individual dedicated digital compact disc storage unit slots 14.

[0047] Top shelf 15A and bottom shelf 15B may comprise typical commercial retail shelving components (e.g., laminated particleboard or the like), secured to a wall 18 or part of a shelving unit, suitably modified to work with the present invention as follows. Top shelf 15A may be provided with a lower groove 16A cut to receive tab 11A and secure top tab 11A of face plate 10. Similarly, bottom shelf 15B may be provided with an upper groove 16B cut to receive tab 11B and secure bottom tab 11B of face plate 10.

[0048] Channel portion 17A of groove 16A accepts lip 12A on upper face plate tab 11A and channel portion 17B accepts lip 12B of lower face plate tab 11B. Thus, face plate 10 may be secured to shelves 12A and 15B such that face plate 10 does not pull away from the shelves when loaded with merchandise or media.

[0049] Additional grooves and channels 16C, 17C and 16D and 17D are provided to allow additional face plates 10 to be placed above and below face plate 10 in a shelving system, thus providing a continuous media wall for storing media or products.

[0050] If the grooves on the face of the shelf are spaced properly, as in the Figures, two face plates may utilize one shelf for support of one of their tabs, thus allowing a set of vertically parallel shelves to accommodate a plurality of face plates (as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and FIGS. 12). Essentially, a set of ordinary shelves may be transformed into a structural support system for any number of face plates, being incorporated into a modular storage, organizing, and display system. An assembled version is illustrated in perspective view in FIG. 3, and in a side view in FIG. 4.

[0051] The face plate itself comes in a plurality of designs. The face plate illustrated in FIG. 1 may be designed to hold digital compact discs (DVDs) or compact discs (CDs), with a dedicated slot for each disc. This type of storage may also be accommodated by alternate designs (see, e.g., FIG. 15, 16, 17). Such an embodiment may be useful for DVD sales, rentals, or for personal or public DVD libraries.

[0052] A standard set of face plates, specifically matched dimensionally to a standard-spaced set of shelves, may all measure the same height, thus all being able to be fitted between any two shelves in the set. Using a plurality of face plates, each designed to store or display various media, the order in which the media may be stored or displayed becomes modular. As illustrated in FIG. 18, if each face plate is shorter than the length of the shelves, several face plates may be slid adjacent each other along the same shelf, allowing various media to be modularly displayed both vertically (above and below) and horizontally (side by side).

[0053]FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the grooves and channels chamfered into the faces of the shelves, into which the tabs of the face plate slide. In this enlarged view of the corner, the grooves and lips (16A, 16C, 17A, and 17C) are illustrated in more detail. As illustrated in FIG. 2, grooves 16A and 16C form slots which may accept tabs such as tabs 11A or 11B.

[0054]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the face plate in its secure position between two shelves. FIG. 3 illustrates the assembled shelf and face plate, after the face plate has been slid into the grooves of the shelf. In this embodiment, the width (horizontal length) of the face plate and the shelf are identical, such that the face plate fills the entire shelving area. A stop-plate (not shown) may be added to the far (hidden) edge of the shelf, to prevent the face plate from sliding out the far side and to provide a better aesthetic appearance.

[0055]FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 2. The shelves are shortened (hence the broken lines) for the sake of illustration. The depth of the shelves may vary depending upon application. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, a large blank area may be left behind face plate 10. However, shelves 15A, 15B with a smaller depth may be used to eliminate this blank area if desired.

[0056] FIGS. 5-14 illustrate various alternative embodiments of the present invention for securing the face plate between two shelves. FIG. 5 is a side view of a first alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves 15A and 15B, using simple dado cuts 51A and 51B into the top and bottom of shelves 15A and 15B. Face plate 10 may be provided as a flat plate which may be slid into dado cuts 51A and 51B.

[0057]FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves 15A and 15B, using dado cuts 51A and 51B into the top and bottom of shelves 15A and 15B. Dado cuts 51A and 51B may be provided with channels 61A and 61B, respectively to receive lip portions 12A and 12B formed on edges of face plate 10. Face plate 10 may be provided as a flat plate which may be slid into dado cuts 51A and 51B, with lip portions 12A and 12B securing face plate 10 to shelves 15A and 15B through channels 61A and 61B, or by snapping into place under pressure.

[0058]FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves 15A and 15B, using elbow dado cuts 71A and 71B into the top and bottom of shelves 15A and 15B. Elbow dado cuts 71A and 71B may respectively receive lip portions 72A and 72B formed on edges of face plate 10. Face plate 10 may be provided as a flat plate with lip portions 72A and 72B which may be slid into elbow dado cuts 71A and 71B, with lip portions 72A and 72B securing face plate 10 to shelves 15A and 15B through channels, or by snapping into place under pressure.

[0059]FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate to two shelves 15A and 15B, using elbow dado cuts 71A and 71B into the top and bottom of shelves 15A and 15B. Elbow dado cuts 71A and 71B may respectively receive lip portions 72A and 72B formed on edges of face plate 10. Face plate 10 may be provided as substantially flat plate with a flush-mount bends 81A and 81B, with lip portions 72A and 72B which may be slid into elbow dado cuts 71A and 71B, with lip portions 72A and 72B securing face plate 10 to shelves 15A and 15B through channels, or by snapping into place under pressure. Flush-mount bends 81A and 81B allow face plate 10 to be flush with the edges of shelves 15A and 15B, allowing for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0060]FIG. 8 is the preferred embodiment of the present invention as contemplated at the time of filing and presents a standard way of integrating face plate 10 with shelves 15A, 15B. In this embodiment, the grooves 71A, 71B are hidden (not on the face of the shelf 10), and the extra bend 81A, 81B in the face plate (as compared to FIG. 7) brings the front of the face plate flush with the front of the shelf, which may be more aesthetically pleasing.

[0061]FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate 10 to two shelves 15A and 15B. Chamferless rail guides 91A and 91B, attached to shelves 15A and 15B, may receive edges of face plate 10. Face plate 10 may be provided as substantially flat plate which may be slid into chamferless rail guides 91A and 91B, or by snapping into place under pressure.

[0062] In the embodiment of FIG. 9, face plate 10 may be attached to pre-existing shelves 15A, 15B without making grooves or otherwise substantially altering shelves 15A, 15B. Guide rails 91A, 91B may be attached to shelves 15A, 15B by screws, adhesive (including double-sided adhesive tape), or other means, and the face plate fitted in. In an alterative embodiment, guide rails 91A, 91B may be formed as a clip which may be clipped over the edge of shelves 15A, 15B.

[0063]FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate 10 to two shelves 15A, 15B, with face-chamfered dados 101A and 101B formed with channels 102A, 102B, respectively. Dado cuts 101A and 101B may be provided with channels 102A and 102B, respectively to receive lip portions 103A and 103B formed on bent edges of face plate 10. Face plate 10 may be provided as a plate which may be slid into dado cuts 101A and 101B, with lip portions 103A and 103B securing face plate 10 to shelves 15A and 15B through channels 102A and 102B, or by snapping into place under pressure.

[0064]FIG. 11 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the face plate 10 to two shelves 15A, 15B, with face-chamfered elbow dados 111A and 111B. Elbow dado cuts 111A and 111B may respectively receive lip portions 112A and 112B formed on bent edges of face plate 10. Face plate 10 may be provided as a plate with lip portions 112A and 112B which may be slid into elbow dado cuts 111A and 111B, with lip portions 112A and 112B securing face plate 10 to shelves 15A and 15B through channels, or by snapping into place under pressure.

[0065] FIGS. 12-14 illustrate face plates 10 may be used in tandem, with each shelf doing double-duty, securing the top tab of a lower face plate, and the bottom tab of an upper face plate. FIGS. 12 and 13 are front face fitting examples (i.e. the grooves are on the front face), corresponding to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 14 is a top/bottom face example (with grooves on the top/bottom of shelves) using yet another type of elbow grooving with a channel.

[0066]FIG. 12 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of FIG. 10, illustrating the method of securing the face plate to two shelves (face-chamfered dado with lip) in such a way that the face plates are able to be used in vertical tandem to form a continuous surface of face plates. Face plates 10 may be secured to shelves 15A, 15B, 15C with face-chamfered dados formed with channels 102A and 102B. Dado cuts may be provided with channels 102A and 102B, respectively to receive lip portions formed on bent edges of face plates 10. Face plates 10 may be provided as plates which may be slid into the dado cuts, with lip portions securing face plates 10 to shelves 15A, 15B, and 15C through channels 102A and 102B, or by snapping into place under pressure.

[0067]FIG. 13 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of FIG. 11, illustrating the method of securing the face plate to two shelves (face-chamfered elbow dado) in such a way that the face plates are able to be used in vertical tandem to form a continuous surface of face plates. Face plates 10 may be secured to shelves 15A, 15B, and 15C, with face-chamfered elbow dados. Elbow dado cuts may receive may receive lip portions 112A and 112B formed on bent edges of face plates 10. Face plates 10 may be provided as plates with lip portions 112A and 112B which may be slid into elbow dado cuts, with lip portions 112A and 112B securing face plates 10 to shelves 15A, 15B, and 15C through channels, or by snapping into place under pressure.

[0068]FIG. 14 is a side view of an alternate method of securing face plates 10 to two shelves 15A, 15B, using a top/bottom chamfered dado with lip. In this embodiment, the face plates are able to be used in vertical tandem. Face plates 10 may be secured to two shelves 15A, 15B, and 15C with elbow dados 1402A and 1402B. Elbow dado cuts 1402A and 1402B may be provided with channel portions to receive lip portions formed on bent edges of face plates 10. Face plate 10 may be provided as a plate with lip portions which may be slid into elbow dado cuts 1402A and 1402B, with lip portions securing face plates 10 to shelves 15A and 15B through channels, or by snapping into place under pressure.

[0069]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternate design for the face plate 1505. In place of the CD or DVD slots of FIG. 1, chambers 1502 may be provided to accept merchandise. Chambers 1502 may be sized to accept a particular type of product or product packaging. Once a standardized face plate securing mechanism is accepted by the industry, such face plates may even be packaged with products (e.g., in warehouse shipments) and may be inexpensively made using vacuum-formed plastic such that a merchandiser need only snap the correctly sized face plate into position and then stock the shelves with merchandise. For home use, different size chambers 1502 may be provided for different home products. Channels 71A, 72B may be formed on face plate 1505 in any one of the number of embodiments described herein to allow face plate 1505 to be secured to shelving.

[0070]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternate design for the face plate 1606 with a plurality of chambers 1602 (e.g., four) for accepting different sized objects than the embodiment of FIG. 15. By mixing and matching different face plates, a user may create a shelving/storage/merchandizing system which may accommodate a variety of differently sized objects.

[0071]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an alternate design for the face plate 1707 where a set of drawers 1702 are provided. Drawers 1702 may be used to convert a shelf area into a storage drawer to keep small items and the like out of sight or to organize small parts or small items for sale (e.g., buttons, screws, nuts, bolts, and the like). Alternatively, drawers 1702 may be used, for example, for different clothing items (e.g, socks, underwear, and the like).

[0072]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the assembly of multiple face plates 10, 1606, and 1707, along a single set of shelves. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of assembled multiple face plates 10, 1606, 1707 along a single set of shelves. FIG. 18 and 19 illustrate how a number of different face plate designs from FIGS. 1, 16, and 17, for example, may be assembled to create a single storage or merchandizing unit.

[0073]FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a face plate 2020, with a slight modification acting as a space doubler. In this embodiment, face plate 2020 may be formed as an L-shaped divider with channels 2024B and 2026B attached or formed on he bottom thereof. Corresponding grooves 2024A and 2026A may be formed in shelf 2022, attached to wall 18 to accept face plate 2020. Grooves 2023A and 2026A may take one of a number of groove shapes as outlined above.

[0074] The sliding plate 2020 may take up any length of the shelf, and may be less wide than the shelf. This allows for books to be stacked behind it (fixed in place) while it can be slid in front of them, keeping some hidden, others exposed.

[0075]FIG. 21 is a side view of how the face plate may be set at a vertical angle so as to display, for example, periodicals, books, or the like. Z-shaped face plate 2121 may be slid or snapped into corresponding grooves 2124A and 2124B formed in shelves 15A and 15B.

[0076]FIG. 22 is a side view of how the face plate may be set at a vertical angle, with both chamfers in the shelves remaining parallel. Z-shaped face plate 2222 may be slid or snapped into corresponding grooves 2224A and 2224B formed in shelves 15A and 15B.

[0077]FIG. 23 is a perspective view of how the face plate, while removed, may be used as a lidded storage bin. Face plate 2323 may be provided with a number of compartments 2326 (or a single compartment). Lid 2324 may be provided to snap over face plate 2323 to seal compartment(s) 2326. Lid 2324 may be provided with a lip (not shown) so as to snap over face plate 2323 in a similar manner to a TUPPERWARE™ container.

[0078]FIG. 24 is a plan view of a special plate used to cover the side or face of a shelf. Side plates 61A and 61B function as stop plates for the face plate, insuring that it does not slide out the sides of the shelf. Front plate 62 may be kept in place when no face plate is being used, covering the groves both for protective and aesthetic purposes.

[0079]FIG. 25 is a side view of an alternate way of affixing a face plate 10 to two shelves 15A, 15B using a T-shaped groove 21A, 21B. This shape may be a more feasible way to cut locking grooves using modern machinery such as a router.

[0080]FIG. 26 is a side view of an alternate way of affixing the face plate to two shelves. In this embodiment, face plate 10 may be affixed to shelves 15A and 15B by providing C-shaped channels on the edges of face plate 10 which interact with milled portions of shelves 15A, 15B, snapping into grooves provided therein.

[0081]FIG. 27 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the face plate of the present invention which may clip to a pair of shelves. Face plate 2702 may be provide with clips formed of members 2704A, 2706A and 2704B, 2706B respectively. The clips may be made of plastic or metal and be elastic in nature to provide spring slipping action. Face plate 2702 may be provided with spring loaded element 2708 which may pressure face plate 2702 in place. FIG. 28 is another view of the face plate of FIG. 27, shown attached to a pair of shelves 15A and 15B.

[0082]FIG. 29 is a side view of another embodiment of the face plate 2902 of the present invention. In FIG. 29, spring-loaded L-channels 2904A and 2904B are coupled by spring-loaded mechanism 2906 to hold face plate 2902 against shelves 15A and 15B by pressure.

[0083]FIG. 30 is front view of another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, spring loaded rods 3002A and 3002B are coupled to face plate 3030. Spring loaded rods 3002A and 3002B have spring loaded portions 3006A and 3006B respectively, and are provided with rubber feet 3004A, 3004B, 3004C and 3004D. When placed between two vertically adjacent shelves, spring loaded rods 3002A and 3002B hold face plate 3030 firmly in place.

[0084] The embodiments of FIGS. 27-30 may be particularly advantageous in applications where existing shelving is already in place and one does not wish to mill, groove, or otherwise machine or alter existing shelving.

[0085]FIG. 31 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention with vertical storage slots. In the embodiment of FIG. 31, face plate 3131 may be subdivided into a number of sub-compartments 3102 for storing articles such as DVDs, CD-ROMS, Papers, cassettes, or the like, depending upon the dimensions of sub-compartments 3102.

[0086]FIG. 32 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention with two embodiments of drawers and doors illustrated. Face plate 3232 is illustrated with a tip-out media drawer 3204 which may be provided with a number of slots or the like for storing discs or papers or the like. Alternatively, cabinet door 3202 may be hinged as shown or may be hinged on another edge (top, bottom or sides) to form a small cupboard or cabinet.

[0087] While the preferred embodiment and various alternative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it may be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. 

We claim:
 1. A modular shelving system, comprising: at least one horizontal shelf; and at least one face plate, removably attached to a portion of the at least one horizontal shelf.
 2. The modular shelving system, of claim 1, wherein, the at least one face plate further comprises at least one tab, and wherein a portion of the least one horizontal shelf is provided with at least one groove for accepting the at least one tab provided on the at least one face plate.
 3. The modular shelving system, of claim 2, wherein the portion of the at least one horizontal shelf comprises a front portion of the at least one horizontal shelf.
 4. The modular shelving system, of claim 3, wherein, the front portion of the at least one horizontal shelf comprises a front face portion of the at least one horizontal shelf, and the at least one tab slides into a corresponding one of the at least one groove.
 5. The modular shelving system of claim 4, wherein the groove comprises a slot portion and a channel portion dado cut into the front portion of the at one horizontal shelf.
 6. The modular shelving system of claim 4, wherein the groove comprises an L-shaped groove cut into the front portion of at least one of the at least one horizontal shelf.
 7. The modular shelving system, of claim 3, wherein the front portions of the at least one horizontal shelf comprise at least one horizontal surface portion of the at least one horizontal shelf, wherein the at least one tab slides into a corresponding one of the at least one groove.
 8. The modular shelving system of claim 7, wherein the groove comprises a slot portion and a channel portion dado cut into the front portion of the at one horizontal shelf.
 9. The modular shelving system of claim 7, wherein the groove comprises an L-shaped groove cut into the front portion of at least one of the at least one horizontal shelf.
 10. The modular shelving system, of claim 1, wherein the at least one face plate is provided with at least one clip for clipping to the at least one horizontal shelf.
 11. The modular shelving system, of claim 1, wherein depending upon the location of the grooves cut into a shelf, the face plate may slide in anywhere from a front portion to a back portion of the at least one horizontal shelf.
 12. The modular shelving system, of claim 1, wherein, the at least one horizontal shelf comprises at least two adjacent shelves, and, the face plate further comprises at least one spring-loaded tension beam to secure the face plate between the two adjacent shelves.
 13. The modular shelving system of claim 2, wherein the portion of the least one horizontal shelf provided with at least one groove for accepting the at least one tab provided on the at least one face plate comprises a raised portion of the at least one shelf.
 14. The modular shelving system, of claim 1, wherein the at least one face plate further comprises: at least one opening provided in the at least one face plate.
 15. The modular shelving system, of claim 14, wherein the at least one opening further comprises a plurality of slots provided in the at least one face plate, the plurality of slots having a predetermined opening dimension for accepting a media container.
 16. The modular shelving system, of claim 15, wherein the plurality of slots having a predetermined opening dimension for accepting at least one of a CD, DVD, and Cassette container.
 17. The modular shelving system, of claim 14, wherein the at least one face plate further comprises: at least one drawer sized to fit within a corresponding one of the at least one opening.
 18. The modular shelving system, of claim 1, wherein the at least one face plate further comprises: an L-shaped face plate provided with at least two parallel tabs for sliding into at least to parallel grooves formed in a horizontal surface of the at least one shelf, the L-shaped face plate dividing space on the at least on shelf.
 19. The modular shelving system, of claim 1, wherein the at least one face plate further comprises: A face plate having a Z-shaped cross-section, such that when attached to said at least one shelf, the face plate provides an inclined portion for supporting books and periodicals.
 20. The modular shelving system, of claim 1, wherein the at least one face plate further comprises: a tip-out drawer having a plurality of compartments for accepting a plurality of media containers. 